Chesterfield Chipmunk sat dozing in his extra-comfy recliner. A late-winter blizzard had closed roads, government offices, and most businesses in the quiet Colorado city of Trinidad. Chet hated being snowed-in, and he didn’t know what to do when he couldn’t leave his Queen Anne Revival style house. Chet took a photo of the scene outside his window. Not a good photo. It was all white, like a sheet of paper. This is what it looked like:

What’s a chipmunk to do? Fortunately, he and his mate Kimana had an extensive treasure trove of DVD’s, which included many classic movies. Chesterfield liked adventure movies, especially those that involved some humorous elements. During the last two days, he had watched all of the movies in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, plus The Treasure of Sierra Madre, and The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw. He really enjoyed Treasure Island and had viewed three adaptations of Stevenson’s novel.

When Kimana insisted that she have a chance to watch both versions of Father of the Bride, Chet escaped to an upstairs room to read. [WHAT?!! READ!! The little critter really was desperate for something to do!!] Eureka!! He found his precious copy of Classics Illustrated Treasure Island.

In the weeks following the Great Blizzard, Chesterfield continued to be enthralled by stories of adventure. As winter slipped away, and as Spring blossomed, he watched all of the Indiana Jones movies, in addition to several pirate movies and that delightful Romancing the Stone. He even continued to read! He decided that Jack London was his favorite author. When a new neighbor renovated an early 20th century house, he found a “pirate’s chest” which seemed to contain the entire library of Classics Illustrated; he gave this collection to a grateful and very happy Chesterfield. As the little chipmunk perused the adaptations of works by Scott, Kipling, R.H.Dana, and J.F. Cooper, his reading skills grew to such a level that he even took on The Odyssey.